Thursday, May 14, 2009

I had big plans this week, people...BIG plans! My husband and two oldest children went to Cape Canaveral Florida to see the space shuttle Atlantis launch. They are gone the whole week. I had all these grand plans of everything I would accomplish while they were gone...HA! I've done nothing. I wanted to paint my kitchen and laundry room cabinets black. And I had every intention of doing it. That is, until I went to Lowe's Monday afternoon with 2 whiny toddlers and got totally overwhelmed by paint choices and the incessant crying coming from my darling children. Ok, scatch that...let 's go see what the laminate counter tops with the "fake granite look" are like. Maybe I can get my contractor friend to do that for me this week. We get to the back of the store and the whole aisle is jammed with trash and pallets of boxes and several employees who don't seem willing or eager to move the crap out of my way. So I wiggle my way in around the crap and start looking for the right color. Still no one moves to help me. Just then my 3 year old scales the buggy to climb out and proceeds to sprinkle/dump an entire bag of goldfish crackers all over the floor. Ok, that's it...we're done! I wanted to leave the heap of crackers on the floor for those lazy employees to clean up, but I didn't. I got myself down on the floor and picked up every last one of them. As I was looking around for somewhere to throw them away, one of the workers yelled over..."just throw em in that big bin over there with the rest of the trash". Yeah thanks! I thought you didn't see me, but obviously you did and were just waiting for the right moment to approach me. People like that really get under my skin. Anyway, we left. I think that whole episode must have started off my week on the wrong foot, because since then I have been so UNmotivated to do anything.

Wah..wah...wah!

Well, I guess I did get 2 things accomplished this week. I had some custom orders that were so much fun to create. I forgot to take a picture of this first one before I packaged it up. So this was my lazy attempt at trying not to unwrap it. Yeah, that didn't work so well. I think I can spend an extra 45 seconds to rewrap. I wanted y'all to be able to see how utterly precious it turned out. I mean, come on...who doesn't love toile? Especially soft pink girly toile with nursery rhyme scenes on it!

ADORABLE!(you can click on the picture to see it better)

I love the simplicity of this one. I got an e-mail from a girl who wanted me to match her daughter's crib bedding. She told me the name and brand. I googled it and printed out a picture of her exact bedding, went to Hobby Lobby, found a coordinating paper and...VOILA! This one was a lot of fun to create... I LOVE custom orders. I really enjoy putting my own spin on my pieces, but it's neat to work with someone in creating that one of a kind customized piece just for them. So, if anyone's interested...my etsy storeis right up there in the top corner, or you can e-mail me anytime. I'm obviously NOT going to get anything else accomplished around the house this week. And I'd much rather craft than paint anyway!

Sorry about your horrific trip to Lowe's. We have a little hardware store nearby. Their prices are sometimes a little higher than the big chains, but their customer service is soooo amazing that most of the time it is worth it to me!

I love your baby plaques but the way, especially the flower with the stroller. Adorable!

Sorry! I know how it is in Lowe's. That is one of my favorite stores...but the customer service is not always that good. I just about know where everything is in there anyway. My sister and brother-in-law have a hardware store in Kentwood, La. and I like it a lot better than a big chain store.

I like the signs that you made. I will keep you in mind. They are so cute.

I don't know how you EVER get anything accomplished! Congratulations on your custom orders! They are so pretty!I'm not surprised that the big box employees didn't help you with the crackers. They don't seem to want to help with much of anything!Hope you have a productive weekend?!

I love the custom orders! Your experience at Lowe's is like a repeat of my life every single time I try to go. I can never find anyone to help me and my boys always HATE going and let me know it. When we bought this house last summer we went every.single.day for weeks because we needed something or had to pick out this or that. I got a little burned out and have just begun going back. You'll get it all done eventually. Just enjoy your quiet house for a few more days!

When my boys were little, I only went to the Do-It Center because all the employees were so friendly and helpful. Definitely worth the extra price (they even gave my kids lollipops).

My trick at HomeDepot/Lowes is to pretend that the closest employee to me is assigned to help me. "Show me how to..., Show me where to find..., I'll follow you..." The best one is, "I'll do it myself using the your equipment." That gets them moving pretty darn quick. And always, I follow up with a smile and a thank you.

I so hate it when you make big plans and then children and life seem to get in the way.oh well-it will be better when your husband is around anyway-he can entertain kids and get you drinks and chocolate! Always a neccesity when painting.I would love to get together! Email me the details and I am sure that others would love to come. If not-me and you can go eat and thrift-my two favorite things!!!

I know what you mean about those employees!! It completely drives me crazy at how unwilling they are to help anyone!! The worst to me is when I ask a question & they are like, “I do not know, I do not work in this department”. I cannot stand it!! I am like can you find someone that does???? ICK!!!

Your creations are so pretty, I love the little toile one with the stroller, how precious is that!! I am so excited for you, custom orders, very nice.

Ok, when you started talking about your huge plans, and then mentioned so casually that you were planning on doing all that painting with two itty bitties-- girl! Don't feel unaccomplished! I haven't even managed to BLOG in the last two weeks! The whiney bug seems to have hit my two little girls and I can't find two minutes to rub together to get a post written!

Sorry to hear about your Lowe's experience. I can so relate with the workers NOT willing to help. I don't like that I have to check my ownself out at the registers as well. There is ZERO customer service.